Marlon Corpin

Many of you have asked for pictures of Marlon - our leaukaemia patient. Here he is before his release and before he started his first month of medication. Since starting his medicine, his face and hands are swollen.





With his trainer from his mission who stopped by to see him on his way home from his mission.

Christmas day with his family. We had his parents, two sisters, three cousins and two nieces over for breakfast and lunch. Look at the excited look on his mother's face as she opens a gift of kitchen wares - measuring cups, spoons etc.

This is Marlon's father. Even under the mask you can see the smile as he opens a gift of a framed picture of Marlon. We then took the picture at the bottom and printed it out to add to the frame - their first family picture ever.

Family members together for Christmas. Back row - Marlon with his two younger sisters, Merly, 20 and MaryAnn, 17, and three cousins. His parents sitting and two nieces in front.

Mayon Volcano Erupting

The Mayon Volcano southeast of Manila has been bellowing smoke and ash for a couple of weeks now. There is lava flowing on the east side. This volcano is only 15 km from Divine's provincial home where she is spending the holidays. She called today to say she was OK. There is alot of ash and breathing is difficult. They don't go out much.
We have had some hazy days here in Manila with ash blowing to the west. Here are some pictures from local papers. An article in the paper said there have been over 1,000 small earthquakes a day for the last week. They are predicting a major eruption any day now.

MRC "Pox Batch"

For the last 21 days we have had 10 missionaries with us at the MRC on "chicken pox watch". This elder was the original "culprit" who caught the chicken pox from his cousins and brought it to the MTC. He broke out right before the group was to leave for their mission areas. We did blood tests for antibodies and 8 elders, 1 sister and 1 teacher/translator had none - so they got a 21 day (all expenses paid) visit to the MRC. We had two more cases - one mild and one severe.
(Above - arriving at the MRC)

Here is the whole chicken pox gang and two more. The elder with white head dressing has a growth removed and the sister in white shirt had gall bladder surgery - so our group was 12 the first week.

Playing basketball at the Area Office - we went in the late afternoons so they weren't in contact with anyone.

An outing to the World War II American Cemetery in Pasig City (Metro Manila)

Quezon City Park - I taught them American Football (with adapted "Calvin rules")

Time for study - we had study time in the morning, classes in the afternoon and activities in the evening. One of those on "watch" was the Vietnamese translator/teacher, so he set up a great schedule. Of the group - we had 2 Vietnamese and 8 Filipinos.

A Chocolate night and helping in the kitchen. Everyone was assigned a city - Palmyra, Zarahemla and Bountiful - and helped in the kitchen and with cleaning.

Learning to eat burritos for the first time!!

Our last outing was to Fort Santiago - Intramuros - the old Spanish city.

Sleeping on the way home from Fort Santiago












Our Christmas party - Family Home Evening.

At the temple when everyone was off "watch"

Saying goodbye and leaving for the mission field!